Police are searching for the owner of a Lexus SUV bearing Royal Cambodian Armed Forces licence plates who fled after firing his weapon into the air to scare a motorbike driver with whom he had gotten into a fender-bender on Monireth Boulevard on Saturday night.

Local media reports suggested the owner of the vehicle was believed to be a one-star general working for the Ministry of Defence, but National Military Police spokesman Eng Hy said that was not confirmed, as authorities were still investigating.

“We are investigating based on the plate number to know who the owner and perpetrator is,” he said.

The suspect fled on foot, leaving the car on Street 271 in Sen Sok district’s Toek Thla commune, after being chased by police. The car has been impounded by military police.

If the driver is determined to be in the armed forces, he has violated internal policies and could be disciplined, Hy said.

Ma Senghout, spokesman for the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, said the ministry didn’t have the authority to run a check on the plates since the ministry did not issue the plates.

Chhum Socheat, spokesman for the Ministry of Defence, said his office was closed yesterday.

Political analyst Ou Virak said those with RCAF or police plates often abuse their power when problems arise, adding that when there is no penalty and they go free, “people won’t learn their lesson, so they are proud of the shootings”.